Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-02-05
Written for The EVENING sr.x.
THE MYSTERIOUS MIRROR
BY CONRAD MORE,
Aaehor OF NY Wifes Diamonds .The TWO
Stilettos," etc.
Copyright 1871

Copyright 1887
For heavens sake Tom, where did you get that
hirroF? exclaimed Jack BeIden aghast "a no
walked into the studio of his friend and fellow
artist, Tom Crecdmore one morning.
Bought 1t, yesterday, from old Ashley. who's
Just got a lot OF such stun from Paris. Why?
" nat strikes you 40 queer about it.,
Just between the windows stood an antIoue
mirror. IL swung between two twisted columns
Oh dark-red polished wood and its frame was a
miracle OF carved ivy leaves Two smiling
ainoretu held out wreath OF vine leaves In their
chuooy hands; and TO each pillar little figure
ciung, and held aioft an oval salver carved all
over In the most delicate tracery. On these the
candles stood TO light the lady at her toilet Jack
stood before II like one in o dream.
''fesi II is Beatrice's mirror" ne murrnured to
himself 81 never thought I'd run across 1t again.
Meanwhile Tom had been examining the saIvers
winch Were Upheld by the cupids. He gave
whistle OF surprise, as he lifted up the bottom OF
one ana drew out OF a shallow receptacle beneath
1tsle green book The two friends sat down by
the glowing CRATE fire and began 10 look il over
II was a little diary, extending over only few
weeks and WI tten partly In French and partly in
Italian; grlish record of first innocent love with
DOW and then simple fact or two 1t began:
lsootta showed me to-day little secret box in
precious letters; and she gave me, besides, this
little green book Maman used II TO put down what
leaves are torn out, and am going to Keep jour
Nal on the rest can't tell about first seeing George
II Is too long and besides know it all by heart,
and 1t would be no use" Further on, she said: 81
wish had Maman- Grandmaman and grandpapa
are so old, sometimes think they are nearly dead
now; and they forget al about me, after they
have patted my head and blessed me. II LiSbotta
were not here we would all starve. SuppOSe,-not
now though George would take care Of US But
that is just what i want Maman for. to tell me
about George. Sometimes | don't like 10 steal
away out OF the old garden 10 see all the beautiful
places he shows me. have queer fancy that
MaTnan would not like II. and know lisbOtta
does noJ-Oniy she doesn't like George, and that is
Dotta cares where go Wy grandparents never
set up until noon, and then when USbOtta has
dressed them and put them In their great chairs
and given them their chocolate and GAZETTE. they
ST. silent all day. grandpapa leaning on his ivory
cane, and grandnaman with her hands folded
LiSbotta says That they do talk, but l never hear
them
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES viii be here to-day. used to
think this dear old walled garden must be the
lOvenest place in the world, and then it began 10
grow treSome. Just little, and now IL Is heaven,
when George IS here; and even when he is gone,
can lie on the stone steps OF the terrace in the
sun. and think Of him. | am 80 happy, 80 happy,
sohappy, that no one but the birds can under
sing iJ all 10 the flowers In The garden, and she
may be as cross as she chooses: but SHE Is never
really cross tome.
''ThGrs6lay.-GeOrge was very angry to-day. i
was frightened; and the worst OF II is | don't
know what did. II WAS only Tor minute, but
could not look at his face. il was SO-buu / viii
not write about IL, my dear. good. lovely George.
II was somehow because he loves me 50; he told
me it was. and he said something about Vi. Felix.
who came as usual tOsee grand'naman. George WAS
In the arbo- and spoke tO H. Felix, and he put
his hand on my head: but w. Felix Is an old gem
tleInan. not old like grandmam2n, but he must be
forty.
..Monday-Llsbotta said an awful thing to-day.
She says that George VIII kil me some day with
lis evil temper But George has not an evil tenn
per. lie doesn't like me to look at anyone in the
street, and am fOrgetful and thoughtiesS. He
says it Is not becoming or modest, 50 OF course IL
makes him angry when forget and stare about.
The people are 30 Strange and Interesting 10 me
who nave lived al my lie in thi, Old house and
garden IiSbotta makes him angry rOo by follow
ing Us wherever we 60 | have seen him quite
furious with her but She dOesr;t care she leaves
Mauan with her Knitting to watch grand!namI H.
aud follows Js about. George doesn't understand
how much she loves me; she is she only friend
have ever had and would be glad il She and
George liSet each other: but one cannot have
ever thing a one wants If.
.-Wedne~day- George has been up here in my
room. LisOOtta would not consent ut first, but /
CO9Ned her hard and 50 she SAID YES and sat i'll the
corner. with her lace pillew-So cross and grave.
j wanted 70 StOw George Manan'5 mirror. He
s<iyS1t Is beautiful. aud work OF ant He was 80
interested and iotkeU al everything, and laughed
beca3l>s. had DUE wreath or roses in the empty
hands OF my eTnoretu H. saws tha' | am a vain
nttle gli. UlIt am only glad 10 bs prf-tty for him.
lie looked round the room too,and. without mink
liz LisbOtid, went up 70 my iitlt bed and knecied
down tnu kissed the pillow. Oh, my dear, dear
l.Fe, what am that YOU should love mt so? and
now can speak OF little shadows IN the presence
OF 70 much lighJ?'
There was 0aly one more place in which the
record BETRAYED fear OF Georges anger. II wish
KEW how 20 Keep him from getting angry: II
makes me afraid BGr II Is M matter hong Is
~ loves ne. and viii accept anything from hiln
II-bOf and he mad Il dreadful talk Yesterday.
lie l. 80 good 8ad tender and gay. except Just now
and then. I.sbOtta SAYS iii has DeeE the fate or
TIE women OF our family TO he loved with lea-
o.Jss AID 10 die mi-eraby. Bat George cannot he
J.l!0u~. Ol whOms There Is nobody, and surely
h knows how love him
The iasI entry was: 20. have had such q
lovely. delicious morning. George was here all
dly. II was cold, and We sat In The little salon,
aEi haf Il ire On the hearth George Wa, 50 gay.
play ei Tor MA OF nv poor regretted Eutir ana
sang aii the old love songs know and ne talked.
How Lat u hc knows ana he Is going to teach me
when W axe always together. / VIII learn fast
love 70 learn ana from George. II there We're
oniy s1T..eoJiy 10 De GLAD with ne. Dear Old Lis
bJJra. -. ...tcs George. think she is Jealous.
bus she .ys no. AIN going To a ball Tonight In
Paris. great ball. with curious people ali dressed
up In masks. ! wonder II II viii d. Ike the court
balls LloUO-t3 tells me about. ] have been happy
enough to-day 1OT lifetine. Ny heart : singing
Ill the tlrae- | loUSed IN Maman's mirror 10. a
whole uiaIte- | wonder now she lOOSed wish
her face would look otit az me | must ask Lis
bOttd ab1u- a SsGry She once told HE. How ndpDy
nave O@en ana am! How beautiful the World Is.
Even now tiltt NE SUMMER mas gone. the sun l.
IS bright and the SKY a. blue rs ever. Goodbye.
little green boon / Will put you away with
Georges letters, lot many, until tO-mOrrow, and
You shall near all about the ball. am 10 wear i
long white CLOAK and piak mask. How queer 1t
viii De. AddiO.7
Il was at the ball" said Jack, in a low voice,
after they mad finished ut was years ago. before
began u study in Paris and went alone"
jack stopped. and resting his head On his hands,
yazed into the IRE with look OF sadness and
PITY
.'POOr little girl,~ he murmured and again re-
lapsed in.O silence.
..NUw, JACK, don't want 10 seem importunate,
bur do come out with what you've got on your
mini about The girl, or the OLD mirror or both.r
JACK Vas silent Tor 4 time, and then went on, as
II he had not stOpped:
at Vas rather heavy work TO be there Quite
alone, and went wandering about until, growing
TIRE; OF the noise and nOASenSe, found iaTkisl
Corner. and leaned against Tie wall in peace Ia i
HOal1I.t or two Saw coupie<apprOachinC, at
tTacteti, suppose, by the quiet a. had bren.
had noticed them before; the man was tan. and
d7-ised simply IN 4 large white burnOuS with short
Stores, having his arms b.re,-Splentiid sinewy
ar.C>, VIII bracelet aboCJ an inch WIDE Just DE-
low the shoulder IL was made OF yellow gold and
hal EDIcT eHdIneled on (. in biOOd-Ted IanIaSi iC
letters The hood 0I the bUfuouS was drawn over
his had and "a mask with very long fan OF silk
d.a-Gl5-i h4In entirety. The girl on his arm wore
hbite doilHo and "A mast, ul pink velvet. She
was delicate fragile little -re4 JIra and when she
sat ~ u" bench LA liz. ana took OF her mask /
saw that sue was mt HI0r. then seventeen and
hid the loyei'-si, Aappe>J ttje face, ST ia deep
gotC A4lf- tic att.leu nl,sl0r1taly in love with
her,-he Sc.Ieu Ter little hands as II lie would
erlls.l them, an once heard him say, for Heay-
en- sthe DOM looE al anybDdy 20 drives me mad
i heard no more. ] Only saw a. | moved
away the happy light die out OF those
sweet eyes and d teprecat!ng. scared expression
taEeitS pi1ce:bGt a. looked back She had hpr hp,d
LastnL@ on lis shoulder, and he seer,,. 10 SCOT me
her teD1crfy, poor little QJsN. Later In me eye
ming Sas attracted b. q sui,icn confusion and
excitement, % great a. 70 b. marked even thOuVh
the perpetual tumGli OF the pilce-i crowd sway